View Poll Results: What do you guys think, does Cobra have the 'edge' when compared to these Japanes aircraft?

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  • Ki43s and A6M2s are both better than P39.

    16 26.23%
  • Cobra is better than Oscar and Zero.

    23 37.70%
  • Just A6M2 is better than P39.

    11 18.03%
  • Ki43 is better than P39. A6M2 is not.

    3 4.92%
  • I do not know.

    8 13.11%
  1. #11
    LEBillfish's Avatar Senior Member
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    Accounts I have read from both sides puts the Cobra at an "initial" first blush disadvantage from either. Try and turn or climb with a zero let alone the Ki43, more so Ki61 on climb and you were done for.

    However, do you turn fight a J8 when in P51? Sure if you like being a target drone.

    Fact of the matter was the zero and Ki43 were respectively fast, climbed better, turned better. But they had poor armaments their explosive bullets going off upon contact with the outer skin of a plane not delayed to reach inside the fuel tanks. Armor piercing only of value at 100m or less.

    So what do you do? You roll, dive and make your "straffing" type runs on both count and the Cobra can hold it's own.

    What actually amazes me is the failure of U.S. history to really appreciate the U.S. built Cobra due to it's foolish bypassing of it. The more I read it's as though Cobra's were the AK-47s of the aircraft world. Everyone had them, and made great use of them.

    The Cobra certainly a plane that "earned" fame whether it got it here in the U.S. or not.
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  2. #12
    <BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>LEBillfish:
    However, do you turn fight a J8 when in P51? Sure if you like being a target drone. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

    LMAO Yup.

    <BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>LEBillfish:
    The Cobra certainly a plane that "earned" fame whether it got it here in the U.S. or not. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

    I agree..
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  3. #13
    The cobra isn't all that bad because of speed etc. you mentioned. But takeing off on a scramble in New Guinea you can't get to the bombers. I find I'm in good shape to take on Ki's & Zeros that drop down to strafe the airbase after I've run out to sea to get a bit of altitude, but getting to the bombers is tough. Esp since PF has us going up against Bettys with that 20mm in the tail. Ouch!
    The superior climb & turn of Zeros & Ki s allows them to dodge an attack & then get the altitude advantage. Of course they are very weak when hit...
    Also gotta agree that the engine on the Cobra's is quite vulnerable.
    One thought, playing a campaign I'm quite happy if I can shoot down some the Japanese fighters making strafing attacks, but in real life I'd be a bit more concerned about my mates on the ground getting pounded by those bombs than I am in PF. Also I'd probably get court martialed for not going after the bombers if that's what my orders were. Surviving is one thing, but the Cobra isn't too good at achieving air superiority over it's own base. And it doesn't have the range to maintain standing patrols for hours on end either.
    Interesting poll tho!
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  4. #14
    AFJ_Locust's Avatar Senior Member
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    <BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by WUAF_Badsight:
    the P-39 better at turning ? no

    better at surviving a DF ? yes <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

    Agreed
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  5. #15
    Blackdog5555's Avatar Banned
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    well in RL the P39 had a terrible time surviving in a DF. In this "game" it does ok. the slow rate of fire of the Cannon and weak guns made it a terrible gun platform. Couldn't shoot for squirt. Without the Supercharger it was cannon fodder as it just couldnt climb and a Zero just had to put a single 7.7 in the unprotected radiator plumbing and you didnt come home. It was hated in the PTO. anyway thats what I read from P39 Pilots interviews. In Russia, it wa modified to be quicker and so Against the low flying 109 it was awesome. i read that 2 of the top five Russian aces were P39 flyers. cheers
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  6. #16
    P-39's biggest drawback in the pacific was its short range. That's why pilots rejoiced when they recieved the P-38.
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  7. #17
    <BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Blackdog5555:
    well in RL the P39 had a terrible time surviving in a DF. In this "game" it does ok. the slow rate of fire of the Cannon and weak guns made it a terrible gun platform. Couldn't shoot for squirt. Without the Supercharger it was cannon fodder as it just couldnt climb and a Zero just had to put a single 7.7 in the unprotected radiator plumbing and you didnt come home. It was hated in the PTO. anyway thats what I read from P39 Pilots interviews. In Russia, it wa modified to be quicker and so Against the low flying 109 it was awesome. i read that 2 of the top five Russian aces were P39 flyers. cheers <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

    I agree. But.. see below:

    <BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>LEBillfish:
    What actually amazes me is the failure of U.S. history to really appreciate the U.S. built Cobra due to it's foolish bypassing of it. The more I read it's as though Cobra's were the AK-47s of the aircraft world. Everyone had them, and made great use of them.

    The Cobra certainly a plane that "earned" fame whether it got it here in the U.S. or not. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

    It seems to by countless reports and stories that I have heard of Cobra (in different air forces) that the only ones who actually widely used that aircraft to it full potential were VVS guys. Why is that?

    Till this moment I'm unsure of that. Someone say: "They removed armor. They removed guns. So therefore they had light version of P39". While it's all true, it still remains unknown why the USAAF did not test that out -> if that was doable for VVS I fail to see why USAAF did not do just that. Also I have read stories about difference in climate, and for sure it way playing some part, but..

    The reason may be because they had something better in plans (P47s, P51s), but still..

    I'm now reading D Loza's book "Attack Of The Airacobras", and I did not even imagine that one mechanic could face that many problem with maintainance of land-lease aircraft. If they were short on some a/c spare parts, they were import them; but in lot of cases they were forced to prodece them via blueprints.

    Also what I find interesting, is that the VVS pilots actually consider Kittyhawk inferior to P39.(P40s were dispatched in some of the P39 sqn's in VVS).
    Some of the VVS pilots were ruined their P40 engines due to lack of superchargers..(the P39s that were in service at that time were equipped with superchargers).
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  8. #18
    Stiglr's Avatar Senior Member
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    I can't prove it, of course, but I think the Russians liked the P-39 so much because, compared to worse pieces of sh*t like LaGGs and early Yaks, it was pretty decent.
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  9. #19
    <BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Stiglr:
    I can't _prove_ it, of course, but I think the Russians liked the P-39 so much because, compared to worse pieces of sh*t like LaGGs and early Yaks, it was pretty decent. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>\

    The Cobra had a heater and a radio.
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  10. #20
    Blackdog5555's Avatar Banned
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    They could listen to the latest western big band music on the radio and have a cold vodka from the mini refrigerator the P39 had in the back. It was an awsome party machine.
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